Women in Science and Engineering
Femmes en sciences et en ingénierie
WISE/FSI |
Ottawa-Carleton Chapter
Winter 1999 | WISE choices for a better world... |
Membership on the Rise!
The Ottawa-Carleton Chapter has gained
quite a momentum over the past six months.
It has significantly increased its membership
from 13 members to nearly 100 members!
This is due to the leadership of Monique
Frize, her executive, and two new student
branches - one at the University of Ottawa
and the other at Carleton University. Not
only has WISE increased in number but also
in diversity. Professional women outside the
scientific community are joining us, as well
as women from different industrial and
governmental sectors.
The fall activities attracted many new faces.
The last event, presentation and dinner with
Margaret Burbidge, attracted a total of 74
individuals, members and non-members. As
she stood before us, at the age of 80, sharing
anecdotes of her past, her passion, strength
and dedication were still very vivid. One of
her anecdotes spoke about the time that she
refused an award because it was intended for
women only. This evoked several reactions
from the audience. One question from the
floor did ask her how she felt about awards
targeted towards women only today.
Although her answer was not categorical,
Burbidge seems to feel uneasy when
recognition is due to gender and not to
ability. Although this is a valid point, one
must consider the women obtaining these
awards... they are usually outstanding. The
new Women Faculty Awards, offered by
NSERC, is an example of the need to
promote women in science and engineering.
Without this award the hiring rate of women
into science and engineering faculties would
not increase as rapidly. These awards
provide opportunities not only to women
scientists and engineers but also remind
scientific communities across Canada to
recognise the need of increasing female
faculty in these disciplines.
Locally, the promotion of women in science
and engineering is being supported by the
private sector. WISE has over the last few
months attracted two new sponsors for the
Ottawa-Carleton Chapter, they include Mitel
and the Canadian Council of Professional
Engineers.
The student branches have also succeeded in
obtaining support from the science and
engineering faculties at U of O and Carleton.
Both branches have successfully organized a
series of events that are geared to students
and which complement the Chapter's
activities. The interest and input of students
demonstrate the need of future female
scientists and engineers to network and to
seek each other out for support. WISE is
providing an excellent platform for women at
all stages of their careers to meet and to
share their experiences and ideas. Ed.
Ottawa-Carleton WISE Executive
1998-1999 |
| President | Monique Frize | Monique_Frize@carleton.ca
or
Frize@site.uottawa.ca |
| Vice-President | Sue Kolloru | skolloru@nortelnetworks.ca |
| Treasurer/Membership | Ann Therriault | ATherria@NRCan.gc.ca |
| Secretary | Jennifer Flanagan | jflanagan@internaut.org |
| Program Coordinator | Colleen Ennett | cennett@uottawa.ca |
| Newsletter/Publicity | Natalie St.Denis-Byrne | nstdenis@uottawa.ca |
| Education Outreach | Paula Terpstra | terpstra@nortelnetworks.com |
| CCWEST Rep. | Monique Frize | Frize@site.uottawa.ca
or
Monique_Frize@carleton.ca |
| Past President | Anne Gribbon | agribbon@nortel.ca |
| U of O Coordinator | Louise Vaillancourt | Lvaillant@joule.physics.uottawa.ca |
| (student branch) U of O Web site:
http://www.science.uottawa.ca/wise or
www.science.uottawa.ca/cfsg
E-mail address
cfsg@science.uottawa.ca
or wise@science.uottawa.ca | |
| Carleton Coordinator | Rebecca Llewellyn | rebeccal@igs.net |
| (student branch) Carleton Web site: http:/WISE.engsoc.carleton.ca | |
WISE web site:
http://www.carleton.ca/wise/wiseinfo.htm
Mailing address for our Chapter:
Ottawa-Carleton WISE Chapter
BOX 35037
Westgate P.O.
1309 Carling Avenue
Ottawa ON K1Z 7L3
Should I consider graduate studies and why?
For: Professionals and students
When: February 4, 1999
Time: 5:30 to 8:00 pm (5:30 - 6:15 networking, refreshments available; event starts at 6:15)
Where: Carleton University, Dunton Tower, room 2203
N.B. Students from U of O can take the Ottawa-Carleton shuttle bus, leaving from 150 University at 4:45
pm and 5:40 pm, ask to be let off at Dunton Tower.
The panel discussion will introduce you to five women at various stages in their careers and
professional lives. One of the panellists is a full time graduate student, two are full time working
women (mothers) completing graduate studies, and the other two are recent hires as university
professors. Come and hear their compelling stories of why they have pursued graduate studies.
Each panellist will present for 5 minutes - the floor will then be open for questions.
The five panellists are...
Colleen Ennett is currently completing her master's at the University of Ottawa in Biomedical
Engineering under the supervision of Monique Frize. Her thesis topic involves the use of artificial
neural networks to predict medical outcomes. Colleen has been the Program Chair for the
Ottawa-Carleton Chapter of WISE since November 1997, and was recently elected to the position
of President of the Electrical Engineering Graduate Students' Association at the University of
Ottawa. Colleen is also into snowboarding, as well as playing ultimate frisbee and soccer.
Louise Mallory joined the University of Ottawa as an Assistant Professor in Mechanical
Engineering in 1998 from Natural Resources Canada, where she was investigating various
welding and coating processes. Louise did her doctoral research in Welding Engineering at The
Ohio State University, studying weld microstructure in gamma titanium aluminide intermetallic
alloys for aircraft engine applications. Louise has had a passion for female ice hockey for 25 years,
playing and organizing tournaments. She also enjoys singing, camping, and spending time with
the children of friends and family.
Delphine Rossille joined the Department of Systems and Computer Engineering at Carleton
University, as an Assistant Professor, in August of 1998. She received her doctorate degree in
1995 in Electrical Engineering from Université de Nice-Sophia Antipolis, France. She pursued her
activities as a visiting research fellow during the summer 1995 at the Imperial College, London in
the U.K., and as a post-doctoral fellow in the department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
at Queen's University in Kingston (95-97). Delphine truly enjoys water sports either it be
swimming or sailing. Traveling and going to the movies are other favorite pastimes.
Natalie St.Denis-Byrne is currently the Assistant to the Vice-Rector (Research) at the University
of Ottawa and is in the process of collecting data for her thesis focussing on organizational culture
and women in science. Natalie has a B.A. in psychology specializing in neuropharmacology. She
has been involved with WISE for 6 years and has occupied a variety of positions on the executive.
She is the mother of a 21/2 year old daughter and enjoys dancing, mountain hiking and quilting.
Ann Therriault is currently a geologist at NRCan Geological Survey of Canada and is
completing a Ph.D. in geology at the University of Ottawa. She worked at NASA's Johnson
Space Centre in Houston for a period of three years while doing her master's thesis at the
University of Houston. Since 1995, she has published a number of papers discussing impact
craters and shock metamorphism. Further to her professional activities, Ann is the mother of a
one year old girl and enjoys team sports as well as playing the piano.
Fight for Excellence : A personal profile of a woman in Science
Guest Speaker: Vimla Patel
When: March 31, 1999
Time: 5:30 pm to 8 pm (5:30 - 6:15 networking, refreshments available; event starts at 6:15)
Where: University of Ottawa, Colonel By Hall, room A707
N.B. Carleton students can take the Carleton-Ottawa shuttle bus leaving at 5:10 pm from Dunton Tower for
transportation to the University of Ottawa campus.
Vimla Patel, a native from the Fiji Islands in the South Pacific, received her postsecondary
education in Psychology at McGill University as well as her master's and PhD in Educational
Psychology. Her research interests lie in cognitive science and the development of medical
expertise. The focus of her research relates to the workplace, problem solving and
comprehension, as well as the socio-cognitive studies of human-computer interaction. Currently,
Vimla is a professor at McGill University in the Departments of Medicine and Psychology, and
the director for the Centre for Medical Education in the Faculty of Medicine. She is involved in
several collaborative projects between McGill University and Harvard, Stanford and Columbia
Universities, and the World Bank. Vimla's hobbies include dancing, poetry, traveling, and music.
University of Ottawa student branch
On January 20th a workshop on job searching will be offered to all students preparing for the
workplace either for the summer or full time; on February 10th a workshop of ergonomics will be
offered to those interested in knowing more about efficient working environments; the following
events will be scheduled in the future: communication in the workplace and industry tours; and on
March 8th there will be a panel discussion "Successful Women in Science and Engineering at the
University of Ottawa: from the Past looking into the Future".
Carleton University student branch
On January 23rd, young women representing WISE have secured a spot for the Tunnel Mural
Painting event on campus; on January 27th a workshop on Resume and Interview techniques will
prove to be useful for those preparing for the hunt for summer jobs or full time jobs; an Industry
tour is planed for February, time and place are to be confirmed; in March, the general meeting and
election will take place, there will also be activities planed for the International Women's Week.
Nage-o-Thon Leucémie Richelieu 98
This swimathon will be held on May 16th 1999 in Orleans, ON. There are two teams gearing up
for the event, the Carleton University student branch and the U of O student branch. Your
participation and sponsors will not only contribute to Leukemia but also to WISE (your branch
will receive a percentage of the sponsorship obtained) - by getting involved you will contribute to
two great causes at the same time! If you wish to get more information please phone Anne
Thériault at 996-9322.
| Executive Positions for 1999-2000 |
Do you wish to let your name stand for next year's Executive? Do you wish to get more involved and participate in
directing the Ottawa-Carleton WISE chapter? The following position descriptions are delineated for you to better
understand the structure of our Executive and to consider participating by allowing your name to stand for
Election at the May Annual General Meeting. Please inform Natalie St.Denis-Byrne if you are interested in any
of these positions at nstdenis@uottawa.ca or by calling 562-5326. (Term of positions from June 1999 to May
2000)
President
- represent and promote the chapter
- set objectives for the year with the other executive members
- organize and chair executive meetings
- liaise with other organizations and other WISE chapters
- provide leadership to the chapter
Vice-President
- assist and support the President in carrying out her duties
- assume duties of the President in her absence
Treasurer/Membership
- maintain up-to-date financial records
- maintain up-to-date membership records
- receive applications/renewal membership information
- exercise signing authority with the President on all chapter documents
Program Coordinator
- organize chapter events (4 to 6 per year)
- this includes contacting speaker, setting up facility, providing input to newsletter. Note that the entire Executive assists in finding contacts.
Newsletter/Public Relations
- prepare and distribute newsletter (research articles, request items from members, have it printed and distributed)
- act as prime contact for any public relations requirements
- search out opportunities to provide relations for the Chapter
Secretary
- write and distribute Minutes of all Executive meetings
- get mail and distribute it as necessary
Education Outreach
- coordinate, liaise or establish programs with schools and other established programs such as Pathmakers and Lets Talk Science
- provide support to and liaise with the student branches at the Universities of Ottawa and Carleton
CCWEST Representative
- Act as liaison between the Ottawa-Carleton Chapter and the Canadian Coalition of Women in Engineering, Science and Technology
U of O Coordinator (student branch)
- provides leadership to the Executive of the student branch at the University of Ottawa
- act as liaison between the student branch and the Ottawa-Carleton Chapter
Carleton U Coordinator (student branch)
- provides leadership to the Executive of the student branch at Carleton University
- act as liaison between the student branch and the Ottawa-Carleton Chapter
Selling my way to a fulfilling scientific career
Two years after graduation, this is a list
of professions chosen by my fellow
biochemistry graduates: lab technician, masters
then PhD students, medicine, dentistry, and in
a few cases, regulatory affairs. Out of a class
of 30, I was the only one to start my career in
sales. I have become accustomed to the
surprised and condescending reactions from
my old classmates since selling is still an
unusual choice for someone in this field.
There is a stigma attached to a scientist
who leaves the conventional lab job for the
scientific/business world. For veteran
researchers and science students alike, sales is
a new low that they could never bring
themselves to. Leaving the lab is sometimes
even seen as an admission to failure in this
highly competitive field. As the Canadian
biotechnology sector evolves and increases its
emphasis on the commercialization of publicly
funded research projects, there will be a
greater need to bridge the gap that divides
scientific and business cultures. Since the
business and scientific communities do not
always complement each other, it presents an
additional challenge in that they must learn to
synergistically coexist for the benefits of the
industry. One of the best ways to gain
experience for this relatively new line of work
is through sales.
Sales and the related occupations of
customer service and technical support are
surprisingly positive environments for women
to be in, simply due to their high numbers.
Jobs in sales have a particular appeal to
women in that the high level of interaction
with people in consultative problem-solving
situations is well-suited to their strengths in
communications and interpersonal skills. In
addition, a woman in the previously male-dominated arena of sales sends a message to
management that she is willing to take on
"men's responsibilities" e.g. extensive travel
and demanding work schedules. This type of
exposure is a prerequisite for any future
promotion.
Despite the number of women in these
positions, an "old boys" network still exists
which is proving slow to change. There are
few women involved in corporate decision-making processes, so for the most part policy-making in these companies lack the perspective
of a large segment of their employees. There
are women managers, and though few in
numbers their role in influencing attitudes for
the better will be key in years to come.
Negative connotations aside, sales was
the right choice for me to start my career
because I was able to combine my background
in scientific theory with my affinity to business
in a way that has highlighted my strengths and
my interests. I hope to be one of the growing
numbers of women managers who will be
striving to create positive work environments
for women in this field.
Aileen Salares received her B. Sc. in
biochemistry/psychology from Carleton University in
1996. She currently works as a marketing and product
manager for Canadawide Scientific
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